Indian couple in Norway to appeal conviction

Oslo: The family of the Indian couple Vallabhaneni Chandrasekhar and Anupama, who were convicted by a Norwegian court on Tuesday for the ‘mistreatment’ of their child, are planning to move a higher court to appeal the convictions. They have a couple of days to go in for appeal.

While mulling to appeal in a higher court, the family members have also blamed the Indian government for adopting a hands-off approach in assisting the couple.

Vallabhaneni, a software professional, and his wife Anupama were yesterday held guilty of "serious child abuse" and sentenced to jail terms for 18 months and 15 months, respectively.

The duo was arrested by the police last month and were convicted for gross or repeated maltreatment of their child/children by threats, violence or other wrong.

"Oslo District Court has found an Indian couple guilty on several counts of child abuse. In the view of the Court, the couple deliberately burned their son’s leg with a hot spoon or similar object with the result that the child had burn marks measuring approximately 3 x 5 centimetres," an official statement said.

The court said it has been proven that on one occasion the parents had even threatened to brand their son`s tongue with a hot spoon.

"The court also found that it had been proven that the parents had on several occasions hit the child with a belt or similar object and that they had on one occasion threatened to burn their son on his tongue with a hot spoon. The proven abuse took place over a period of six to seven months and therefore falls under section 219, first paragraph, of the Penal Code on repeated maltreatment.

The jail terms of 18 months for the father and 15 months for the mother were proposed by the prosecution.

"One of the parents received an unconditional prison sentence of 18 months, and the other an unconditional prison sentence of 15 months. This is in line with the sentences proposed by the prosecution. The verdict can be appealed to the Borgarting Court of Appeal," the statement said.

Reacting to the Court verdict, Indian officials in the Ministry of External Affairs said, "Our embassy in Norway has been in touch with the Indian nationals involved in the case.

"Even during the course of their detention the Consular Officer has been in touch with them. We will continue to render necessary consular assistance and will be in touch with their lawyer," they said.